Player piano



May 20, 1941. T, F CHEEK 2,242,417

PLAYER PIANO Filed May 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LJu jrg- 1.

BY umm @Lm/VW ATTORNEY May 20, 1941. T. F. cHEl-:K

PLAYER PIANO Filed May 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jzzeffg a/WVENTOR' ATTORNEY Patented May 20, 1941` PLAYER PIANO Tolbert F. cheek, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to welte Mignon Piano Corporati corporation of New York on, Brooklyn, N. Y., a

Application May 13, 1938, Serial N o. 207,842

2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to automatic musical instruments and has particular relation to automatic planos of the so called miniature type.

In applying the automatic power mechanism to the miniature pianos, difiiculty has been experienced in placing the power mechanism within the usual small case in such a manner that it will not be visible to the observer and at the saine time be so placed that it will operate the playing mechanism without destroying the artistic effect.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of an improved player piano wherein the power members, such as pneumatics, of the piano player action are placed within the miniature piano casing in such a` manner that the presence f such power members will not be apparent from a casual examination of the instrument.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such an instrument having the piano action above the bottom vof the keybed and the power members below the keybed withian operative connection therebetween.

Still another object of the invention is the pro- Vision of such an instrument having a connection between the power members below the keybed with the underside of the piano keys.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such an instrument having a connection between the power members below the keybed with the underside of the wippen.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a. reading of the complete specication and claims.

Similar reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the specification and the drawings wherein I have illustrated embodiments of my invention.

Figure 1 is an elevational sectional view of one form of my invention having the striker pneumatics operating on the lower sides of the keys.

Figure 2 is an elevational sectional view of another form of my invention having the striker pneumatics operating on the lower sides of the wippens.

In carrying out my invention, I utilize a conventional form of piano action. As illustrated, the action rail I0 is located above the bottom of the keybed II and in front of the plane of the piano strings I2. The action rail I0 is provided with a flange I4 carrying a damper lever I5 pivoted thereto in a well known manner. At the wippen end of the damper lever I5 is the damper block I6 with the damper pad I 6a in contact with the string I2 except during the actual playing of that particular string.

Supported also on the action rail is a flange I 1 to which is pivoted the hammer butt I8 which carries the hammer I9. The hammer spring rail 20 is contacted at one end by the hammer butt spring 2I which returns the hammer to its outof-action position as illustrated. The hammer rail 22 is pivoted on the pivot 23 supported by the piano frame.

Supported also on the action frame is a ange 24 upon which is pivoted a wippen 25. The jack 26 is pivoted on the forward portion of the wippen 25 and extends upwardly for engagement with the hammer butt I8 to give movement to the hammer to strike the string. The jack spring 21 engages an arm of the jack at one end and at its other end rests upon the wippen. This jack spring 21 normally holds the jack in position ready for operation.

A regulating screw 28 is mounted in the regulating rail 29 and at its lower end carries a regulating button 30. This regulating button is engaged by an extension of the jack during the playing operation and its adjustment by the screw 28 determines the position of the hammer at the time the jack snaps olf the bottom of the hammer butt I8.

At the outer end of the wippen are mounted the check 3I with its coacting member 32 mounted on the hammer butt I8. The-bridle wire 33 is also mounted on the forward end of the wippen 25 and carries one end of the bridle tape 34, the other end of which is attached to the hammer butt I8.

In contact with a pad on the lower side of the Wippen 25 is a capstan screw 35 mounted on the rear end of the piano key 36. The key 36 is pivotally mounted at 3l. The front panel of the piano is shown at 38.

All of the aforementioned construction is old and its construction and operation well known to those skilled in the art. For this reason, further details of construction and operation will not be described.

In order to efiiciently operate the piano mechanism by the power means and do so without changing the general outline of the miniature piano, I have placed the power means, herein illustrated as a. stack of pneumatics and which I herein term the pneumatic action, just below the keybed so as not to be easily observed and yet to be in a position to operate the piano action with as little loss of power as possible.

In the form illustrated in Figure 1, the pneumatic action is placed in a position immediately below the keybed with the operating end of the pneumatic to the rear. These pneumatics of which there are illustrated two superimposed horizontal rows, have been designated 40. The pneumatics 4! are each provided With a valve operating mechanism 4l, which valve operating mechanisms control the operation of the pneumatics, selectively, through the operation of a suitable tracker (not shown) which is provided with pneumatic ducts connected to the ducts 42.

At the movable ends of the pneumatics MJ are lower ends of power action abstracts 43 which are provided with adjustable head-portions 44. These head-portions are adjustable and their wippen-ends contact in this form of the invention directly with the under sides of the respective keys as illustrated in Figure l.

When atmospheric pressure is admitted to a duct 42, the pneumatic $0 corresponding to this duct 42, is collapsed in a manner well known to those skilled in the art,

The collapse of the pneumatic 49 causes the abstract AS to push upwardly and operate the key 36 from its rear end. This in turn causes the operation of the wippen 25 and the operation of the piano action as already described.

The structure illustrated in Figure 2 is common to that illustrated in Figure 1 as far as the piano action is concerned.

In Figure 2, however, the pneumatics 40a of the power action are located slightly to the rear of the positions occupied by the pneumatics 40. The abstracts 43a are provided with adjustable head-portions 44a which instead of engaging the underside of the keys 35, engage the underside of the wippen 25. With this construction the keys do not have to be operated by the power derived from the power pneumatics of the pneumatic action. Y

The lower panel 45 of the piano is located immediately in front of the pneumatics 40 or 40a as the case may be.

It will thus be clear that I have provided a pneumatic piano playing combination which will be out of sight and will operate eiliciently and effectively in a miniature or other small piano as well as in a larger type.

While I have described and shown structure illustrating my invention, it is desired to have it understood that the showing is merely illustrative and that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit oi the invention and within the scope as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. In a piano of the type having strings in a substantially vertical plane, a key bed, a piano action having keys and wippens, the wippens and a substantial part of the remainder of the piano action being located above the bottom of the key bed and below the tops of the keys, the rear ends of the keys operating directly on the wippen; a pneumatic action having pneumatics located immediately below the key bed and in horizontal position for direct vertical movement and having extensions, abstracts connecting the extensions and piano action for direct operation of the wippen from the pneumatic.

2. In a piano of the type having strings in a substantially vertical plane, a key bed, a piano action having keys and wippens, the wippens and a substantial part of the remainder of the piano action being located above the bottom of the key bed and below the tops of the keys, the rear ends of the keys operating directly on the wippens; a pneumatic action having pneumatics located immediately below the key bed and in horizontal position for direct vertical movement and having extensions, abstracts connecting the exten sions and wippen for direct operation independ- 0 ently of the key, the wippen contacting points of the key and abstract being in close proximity to each other.

TOLBERI F. CHEEK. 

